Scrophulariaceae

Penstemon rydbergii

Rydberg's Penstemon

Basal rosette of bright green leaves from woody base. Leaves to 2 in. long, widely oval to spoon-shaped, entire, hairless; lower stem leaves well developed; upper stem leaves lance-shaped, sessile. Inflorescence dense with well-separated whorls of flowers standing straight out or upward from stem, not hanging. Flowers small, bright blue or purple, with few white or pale yellow hairs on inside floor of tube, staminode densely covered with golden hairs. Grows in wet rocky soils at mid to high elevations. Similar to but taller than P. procerus, which often occurs in similar habitats and which has flowers facing downward.

• Rarity: Locally Common
• Flowering Time: Mid Summer
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 8--25 inches
• Habitat: Meadow, Subalpine, East-Side Forest, Vernal Wet
• Found In: Steens, Crater Lake Np, Wallowas
• Native: Yes